Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to discard harassment exemption for judges and politicians

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday that exemptions for judges and politicians from sexual harassment laws will be scraped as his government is facing problems to contain a backlash over allegations of mistreatment of female lawmakers and staff.

PM Morrison said that these changes aim at empowering complainants in workplace disputes related to gender, employers will be required to take a bold approach to stop gender discrimination, while complainants get a longer period to lodge complaints.

At the beginning of last year, Australia’s sex discrimination commissioner called for broad changes to the law for workplaces including eliminating exemptions for public sector employers and people who hire volunteers.

Morrison said that all 55 of the commissioner’s recommendations would be adopted which includes a blanket ban on workplace gender discrimination, compulsory training of company directors and reporting by listed companies, and improved coordination between agencies that handle complaints.

Morrison told reporters in the capital, Canberra that sexual harassment is not acceptable.

Morrison said, “It’s not only immoral and despicable and even criminal … it denies Australians, especially women, not just their personal security but their economic security by not being safe at work.”

At present, public servants like judges and politicians are exempted from complaints on workplace gender discrimination, as are some employers and volunteers due to a legal loophole. 

The government has been facing backlash saying it mishandled sexual harassment situations and assault after a female former staffer of Morrison’s government went public in February with an allegation that she was raped in a ministerial office in 2019.

Morrison’s handling of sexual harassment issues has been criticized widely. Most polls suggested that the government failed in dealing with these issues.